YES, IT’S TRUE—we rarely feature ultra-modern spaces here at TIG (especially brutalist ones), but there is something about this home in Orinda, California, that drew us in. Built by Faulkner Architects for a couple of environmental scientists and their two sons who relocated from the Oakland Hills to the warmer climate of Orinda, the goal was sustainability, including net-zero energy performance yearly. The design includes the use of Cor-Ten steel, a durable, fire-proof, no-maintenance material that envelopes the exterior and with its rusted surface, blends in perfectly with its environment. The material will continue to change with time and seasons. Inside, concrete and wood and steel all intermingle dramatically under the shade of the giant Valley Oak that stands watch over the home. Scroll through for a glimpse…
